Terry-Ferdinand handshake row

Chelsea say John Terry and Ashley Cole will go-ahead with the pre-match handshake at QPR tomorrow. It is the first time the Chelsea captain has lined up against Anton Ferdinand since being cleared of using a racial slur against him.

Roberto Di Matteo said Chelsea would "respect the rules" and go-ahead with the pre-match handshake at QPR tomorrow. The Chelsea manager added that both John Terry and Ashley Cole will be available for the match.

They've recovered, had a couple of days training and we expect them to be available for tomorrow.

We're going to respect the rules and the protocol that is in place from the Premier League and set a positive standard to the millions of people watching across the world.

Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo has confirmed John Terry and Ashley Cole are expected to be fit for the club's Premier League game at QPR tomorrow and that he expects both to take part in the pre-match handshake.

Advertisement

QPR striker Bobby Zamora said he will shake John Terry's hand at Loftus Road tomorrow, if the Chelsea captain starts.

England's John Terry (right) chats with Bobby Zamora on their way to the training field in 2011. Credit: Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport

The pair played together as schoolboys and Zamora told The Sun: "I've known John Terry for years and he's a very good friend of mine. We grew up together and of course I'll shake his hand if he's playing on Saturday."

Last January's FA Cup match at QPR and the meeting between the sides in April at Stamford Bridge were good examples of passionate and vocal rivalry with the fans of both clubs recognising that abuse and discrimination have no place in a football stadium, nor anywhere else in society.

– Chelsea's statement 'The Right Rivalry'

QPR will not tolerate sexual or racially based harassment, or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal and where required we will work in full co-operation with the Metropolitan Police to provide CCTV footage and staff statements to ensure prosecution. Any actions that lead to prosecution or removal from the ground will result in a ban.